An Independent Alliance minister has confirmed that his group blocked plans by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to make a government appointment to a €278,000 bank job.

Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath said that Mr Kenny had sought to make an appointment to the high-powered job at the European Investment Bank (EIB), but that the Independent Alliance insisted a public competition for the role take place.

There was speculation over the weekend that former Taoiseach John Bruton and ex-Department of Finance boss John Moran were being considered for the role of vice-President at the EIB.

Mr McGrath said: "Shane (Ross) immediately contacted the Taoiseach and made the point that we had to have an independent process.

"The Taoiseach in fairness to him, agreed to do that and the job...will be advertised," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Kenny said: "The process in relation to the EIB nomination is agreed and not too dissimilar to that which oversaw the appointment of the governor of the Central Bank. As is clear at this point no specific individuals were discussed or even mentioned. The process will now take its course."